Reviewer, 2008-05-28 07:20:00

Active Dimensions 3 is an entry-level 3D modeling tool designed for users who need basic modeling capabilities.

Pros: Active Dimensions 3 is an entry-level 3D modeling tool designed for users who need basic 3D modeling capabilities. Models can be constructed by transforming and combining up to thirty-one basic 3D surfaces or by extruding, revolving, or lofting 2D profiles. Active Dimensions 3 allows users to export models as DXF, VRML 2.0 or Wavefront obj.

The basic surfaces include Miscellaneous out line block, plane and tiled plane. Extruded regular polygons that have extruded hexagon, octagon and triangle; Mechanical joints and organic joints, platonic solids such as dodecahedron, octahedron, tetrahedron and so on; cones, cubes, cylinders, spheres and torus. The user interface has simple pictorial representations available as menu buttons. There’s a dynamic transformation control that provides rotation, scaling, extrusion, translation etc on the surfaces to create solids. Color selection panel allows one to create the color scheme to be used.

Solids can also be created by adding, subtracting, joining and union of various pieces of solids created. Views can be defined to suit the scene. Any special need for surface development is done in a companion 2D editor. The 2D editor can be used to create surfaces of rotation or planar geometry for extrusion or lofting in Active Dimensions 3.

Cons: This is not meant for strict CAD operations in which case there are various standards to be met so that parts created can be manufactured and inter-working is possible with other pieces of CAD software. This is more of a demonstrator of the principle involved in creating 3D models. Also it is capable creating simple 3D objects that can be used in games and virtual reality situations. Real-life CAD demands far more complex surface developments including sculptured surfaces.

Overall: This is a nice application for the limited use discussed above and certainly rates 3 stars.